除夜直都厅，囚系皆满，日暮不得返舍，因题一诗于壁

除日当早归，

官事乃见留。

执笔对之泣，

哀此系中囚：

小人营糇粮 ^① ，

堕网 ^② 不知羞。

我亦恋薄禄，

因循失归休。

不须论贤愚，

均是为食谋。

谁能暂纵遣？

闵默 ^③ 愧前修 ^④ 。

注释

①糇（hóu）粮：干粮，这里“糇粮”借指生活必需。②堕网：堕入法网，即犯法。③闵默：亦作悯默，心中有忧说不出来的意思。④前修：先贤。

Seeing Prisoners on New Year's Eve

I should go back early on New Year's Eve,

But my official duty detains me.

Holding my writing brush in hand, I grieve

For I am like these prisoners I see.

They cannot earn an honest livelihood,

And feel no shame at committing a crime.

I won't resign my office which I should,

And get into a rut and lose my time.

Don't ask who is foolish or who is wise.

All of us alike must scheme for a meal.

Who can be carefree from his fall and rise?

Silent before the sage, what shame I feel!

赏析

本诗为苏轼初到杭州的除夕夜所作。除夕夜加班审判犯人，理应郁闷难当，但他却出人意料地站在人性的角度来思考问题。这是本诗的闪光之处，也是苏轼品格的耀眼之处。 y5bBGhkGabnO7RngBHJ4b0aCp10ZOUi4ldt7XSTYIvucH5Oa66FMVacU9DKDrnyl